For centuries, signatures have served as symbols of legality and authorization—used in contracts, power-of-attorney letters, official documents, and everything in between.
When a signature is forged, the consequences can be severe: documents become invalid, financial losses occur, and criminal charges may follow. And in the digital age, the risks are even higher. Forgery doesn’t just happen on physical documents anymore—it now extends to electronic documents and digital signatures.
Let’s walk through the laws governing signature forgery and the consequences behind it so you can better understand how to prevent it.
The Legal Validity of Digital Signatures
Legally, both handwritten and digital signatures represent a person’s agreement and commitment to the content of a document. By signing, an individual acknowledges that the document is accurate and accepts responsibility for its contents.
So, what about electronic or digital signatures?
Under Indonesia’s ITE Law, electronic signatures are legally recognized as part of electronic documents, provided they meet authentication, data integrity, and identity-binding requirements.
Here are the legal foundations:
1. ITE Law Article 11
Digital signatures are legally valid and equivalent to handwritten signatures as long as they are used for verifying and authenticating electronic documents.
2. Government Regulation 71/2019 Article 59 (3)
A digital signature is legally recognized if it fulfills the following conditions:
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The signature data belongs exclusively to the signer
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Only the signer can access it during the signing process
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Any change to the signature or document can be detected
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There is a clear method to identify the signer
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There is explicit evidence of the signer’s approval of the document
3. Government Regulation 71/2019 Article 60
There are two types of digital signatures:
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Uncertified (without a digital certificate)
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Certified (backed by a digital certificate issued by an official PSrE provider)
Criminal Penalties for Signature Forgery
Forgery of a signature is an unlawful act that carries criminal penalties when certain elements are met. Both the person forging the signature and anyone who uses the forged document may be punished.
Key points on signature and document forgery:
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It is considered a criminal offense if the forged document carries legal consequences, grants rights or obligations, or is used as legal evidence.
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Under Article 263 (1) of the Criminal Code (KUHP), signature forgery can lead to up to 6 years in prison.
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For electronic documents or digital signatures, the ITE Law imposes even harsher penalties. Forgery or manipulation of electronic documents can be prosecuted under Article 35 of the ITE Law, with penalties of up to 12 years in prison and/or significant fines.
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Beyond criminal sanctions, civil lawsuits may also be filed for financial damages suffered by victims.
Key Legal Articles on Forged Signatures
Here are the main articles used to prosecute signature forgery cases:
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Article 263 KUHP: Governs forgery of documents (including handwritten signatures) used as if they were genuine and cause harm.
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Article 266 KUHP: Covers forged documents containing misleading signatures that deceive others.
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Article 35 of the ITE Law: Regulates the manipulation or forgery of electronic documents and digital signatures.
Example:
Someone forges a signature on a sales contract to make it appear valid, then sells the item without the owner’s permission. Depending on the format (physical or electronic), this can be prosecuted under KUHP Article 263 or the ITE Law.
Use Anti-Forgery Digital Signatures
To prevent signature forgery in today’s digital environment, businesses must transition from traditional handwritten signatures to certified digital signature solutions.
A digital signature is not just a “signature created digitally.” A legitimate digital signature must be issued by an accredited Electronic Certification Provider (PSrE), regulated by Komdigi, such as VIDA.
VIDA offers two digital signature solutions that can be used for enterprises: Selfie Sign and POA Sign.
1. Selfie Sign: Digital Signature with Facial Verification
Selfie Sign combines real-time biometric facial verification with a personal digital certificate.
Features:
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Ensures the signer is the real, authorized individual
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Reduces identity fraud and document misuse
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Fast and secure: users take a live selfie during signing, matched against eKYC data
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Signed documents come with a full audit trail, including timestamp, device, and location
This solution is ideal for customer agreements, remote business transactions, and signing important documents securely.
2. POA Sign: Signing on Behalf of an Institution or Authorized Party
POA (Power of Attorney) Sign enables authorized representatives—such as legal officers, corporate secretaries, or designated personnel—to legally sign documents on behalf of an organization.
How it works:
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The system integrates VIDA’s API
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The signing action is executed on behalf of the designated authority
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Every signature is still backed by a certified PSrE digital certificate
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Audit logs clearly reflect who signed and under whose authorization
POA Sign is perfect for corporations with multiple internal signatories—such as law firms, government agencies, financial institutions, or notaries.
Building Trust with Legally Verified Digital Signatures
In the digital era, trust is built not only through speed and efficiency—but through strong cybersecurity and legal compliance. With VIDA Sign for Enterprise, businesses can protect document integrity, verify every signer, and stay aligned with regulatory standards.
By using legally verified, biometric-backed digital signature technology, companies can avoid the severe criminal risks associated with forged signatures and strengthen the security of their administrative processes.
Contact https://vida.id/en/sales for further information.
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